Page 75 of My Rules

“Ohhh,” he teases. “I could be straight for you, Doctor.”

I roll my eyes. “You are an incorrigible flirt, Neil.”

“That’s what makes me so loveable.” He winks before picking up a chart and disappearing down the hall.

Rebecca

The bus pulls out into the traffic, and I turn toward the next line. I’m on bus duty, and afternoons are hectic. “Rebecca,” a voice calls from behind me.

I turn to see the father of one of my students from last year. He was always cute and quiet.

“Hi.” I smile.

Shit, what is his name?

“Long time, no see.” He smiles broadly.

“Yes. I know.” The next bus pulls up, and I gesture for the line to start getting on. “How is Greg doing?” I ask.

“He’s great.” His eyes hold mine as if he has something to say. “Listen ... I ...” He puts his weight onto his back foot. “I couldn’t ask you last year because it wasn’t really appropriate.”

I raise my eyebrow in question.

“Would you like to go out sometime?”

“Oh ...” I’m taken aback. I was not expecting this. “What happened to your wife?”

“We haven’t been together for years.” He gives me a lopsided smile.

“Right.” Shit, I should have known that. “You want to go out on a ... date?”

“If I’m overstepping, I apologize.”

“No, no. I’m just ...” Actually ... this could be perfect. “This is going to sound weird, but would you be opposed to going on a double date?”

“Oh . . .”

“It’s just, I haven’t dated since my marriage broke up, and ...”

“You’re feeling nervous?”

“Apprehensive, and my brother is in the same boat. So we decided for our first few dates, we would try and go out together, if possible.”

“Oh.” He nods as he thinks it through. “Your brother?”

“He’s a nice guy, and it’s just a thought ... it doesn’t matter if ...”

“No, sure. Why not?”

“Really?” I smile.

“Saturday night?”

“Sounds great.”

He gets out his phone. “What’s your number?” I tell him my number, and he types it into his phone. “I’ll call you Thursday, and we’ll make the arrangements,” he says.

“Sounds . . . perfect.”

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